Optically-activated waveguide grating switching arrays

An optically addressed variable efficiency waveguide grating was realized using single-mode glass waveguides with relief gratings and an active material cladding. Single-mode Ag/sup +/-ion-exchanged glass waveguides coated with a thin layer of dichromated gelatin holographic material were used. The gratings (L=1.1 mm) were formed by holographic recording with argon laser beams and subsequent processing of the holographic film to obtain a relief pattern. The device can be used to form a waveguide switch array, such as a crossbar switch array where the address polarized beam is modulated with a spatial light modulator. Since the efficiency can be modulated continuously, it can also be used as a modulator, in reconfigurable optical interconnects, or for neural network applications.<>